126 THE TERSIAX POST-ROAD. 



storm of rain, wliicli laid the dust-clond wliicli liad been 

 its forerunner. The storm did not last long, but it made 

 a great impression on us at the time, though it was a 

 triile to one we afterwards encountered. In the worst 

 of the wind and rain, our driver pulled up short, and 

 jumped down to secure two bales of serge which had 

 fallen from the back of some overburdened camel, and lay- 

 on the steppe the prize of the foi-tunate first-comer. The 

 driver of the second cart claimed his share of the booty, 

 and we were obliged to insist on their postponing the 

 arsrument of the case until our arrival at the next station. 

 There we received the unwelcome intelligence that it was 

 140 instead of 80 versts, as we had previously believed, 

 from Erivan to Nakhitchevan, and that immediately before 

 lis lay a large river, now dangerously swollen, which it was 

 doubtful whether we should be able to cross. 



Eeflecting that, in the present state of the weather, the 

 stream was more likely to be larger than less next morn- 

 ing, we determined to take our chance, and declined to 

 follow the rustic policy of waiting till the river should 

 sink, recommended by Fran9ois, among whose strong 

 points fording of rivers was not included. We very soon 

 came to the brink of a formidable-looking stream, but our 

 driver was plucky, our horses faced the water bravely, and, 

 piloted by a native horseman, we emerged safely on the 

 further bank. In the same way we crossed a second 

 branch of the river, and were just congratulating ourselves 

 on the ease with which we had vanquished the enemy, 

 when the third and last branch came into sight, as big as 

 the other two put together. Before venturing on the 

 passage we confided the saddlebags, now om- only luggage, 

 to a horseman who was to precede us, and took oft* our 

 boots and socks, in case the water should come into the 

 cart. The stream before us was 100 vards wide, and was 



